Folding crate.



No. 893,752. PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

E. ROADIFER.

FOLDING CRATE. APPLICATION rinnn we; 22, 1907.

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PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

E. ROA DIF'BR.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED we. 22. 1907.

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ERASTUS ROADIFER, or LOGAN, IOWA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF TO ROY E. ADAMS, or

LOGAN, IOWA.

FOLDING CRATE.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Serial No. 389,719.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERASTUS ROADIFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Logan, in the county of Harrison and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved folding crate, and the object thereof is to provide a crate which is simple in construction and cheap to manufacture, and which when folded may be locked in such position and handled as one piece.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a perspective view of the crate in set-up or operative position; Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the crate in folded position; Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 represents a transverse section of a crate taken on line 44 of Fig. 2. r

In the embodiment illustrated the invention is shown applied to a poultry crate constructed of the ordinary longitudinal slatted members, and which com rises a bottom 1 having end members 2 an 3 hinged to fold inwardly flat against its upper face. Side members 4 and 5 are hinged to the o posite sides of said bottom member 1 to fo d outwardly, and at the upper ends of these side members is hingedly connected the top member 8. These side members 4 and 5 are divided longitudinally intermediately of their ends into sections 6 and 7 hingedly connected to each other to fold outwardly. The top member 8 has a sliding slat 9 arranged to slide in guides formed in any suitable manner. This slat is provided at its opposite ends with turn-buttons 10 and 11 which are ada ted to be turned down against the end mem ers to hold the slide against movement in either direction. When it is desired to open this slide for the insertion or removal of a fowl or other object, one of the turn-buttons is turned up and the slide moved outwardly.

Fasteners 12 and 13 are arranged at opposite sides of the end members to engage the folding side members and hold said members rigidly together. erably made in the form of hooks, as 14, which en age eyes, as 15, screwed into said side mem ers. A hook 18 is also placed at each end of the top to en age eyes in the end members, and a revoluble keeper 16 is provided for locking this hook in closed position. A foldable partition 20 is pivotally connected at its upper end with the inner face of the top member 8 and adapted to fold flat thereagainst when the crate is collapsed. A spring-hook 21 is attached to the lower edge of said partition to hold it in operative posi tion when the crate is set up.

When the side members 4 and 5are raised to perpendicular position they carry the top member 8, which is hinged thereto, into its proper position, and the ends 2 and 3 are then opened up and fastened to said side and top members, whereby the crate is rigidly held in operative position.

When it is desired to fold the crate, the fasteners 12, 13 and 18 are disconnected and the end members 2 and 3 folded inwardly on the bottom 1, and the side members 4 and 5 are then bent outwardly and the sections of each folded flat against each other with the top resting on the folded end members. The hook 16 is then connected with an eye 17 on the bottom member, whereby the parts are securely held in folded position.

While in the form illustrated the side mem bers are described as made in hingedly connected folding sections, it is to be understood that the end members may be so made instead of side members if desired, and the side members constructed like the end members herein shown.

I claim as my invention A folding crate comprising a top member, a bottom member, a pair of side members each hinged to said top and bottom members,

1 each of said side members being divided lon-.

gitudinally and connected by centrally attached hinges, end members hinged to said bottom member and folded inwardly and provided with means for fastening them to These fasteners are prefthe top and side members, a partition hinged my hand in presence of two subscribing witto the top member, and yieldable means carnesses. ried by the bottom of said partition for detaehably engaging the bottom, said parti- ERASTUS ROADIFER' 5 tion adapted to fold flat against the top WVitnesses:

when desired. 7 THos. ARTHUR,

L[n testimony whereof I have hereunto set 7 MARY E. LAUGHLIN. 

